Chapter 10 – Magic Man
DISCLAIMER: We do not own Marvel... unfortunately... xD
Author's Note: In which Loki tests the extent of his new abilities... :P
~ Amina Gila
The power of the seidr pouring through him is almost heady, and part of Loki wonder how he'll ever learn to control it, because learn he must. His link with the Tesseract – one which is constantly feeding him with energy – is not one to be taken lightly. It's powerful, but it's even more dangerous. Yes, by some miracle his body is able to withstand the strain, though that's not even the issue. Untamed seidr can be extremely dangerous, both to the mage and all those around them. Loki knows that, with his violent emotions, he could easily lose control. He doesn't want to be responsible for accidentally injuring or killing someone.
He's been healing from his injuries for nearly two weeks, and his growing restlessness had finally led him to suggest to Thor that they spar together. Which naturally had led to all the current residents of the Tower coming to observe. Loki hadn't been initially enthusiastic, but after some arguing, he'd reluctantly cast a protective spell to shield the observers from any risk of injury should he – or his brother – lose control.
Loki ducks under Thor's swing – he's using a sword Loki conjured for him, since they didn't want to completely wreck Stark's Tower – bringing his daggers up to halt the returning blow. They're fluctuating between using weapons and their fists while Loki tests the limits of his bond. By all rights he should be dead, and he really doesn't want to overdo it in a battle which is why he's practicing. The Space Stone's seidr feels different than his own, more slippery and wild. It makes control exceedingly hard.
Thor presses his relentless attack with the sword, and Loki pulls on the link, tossing a blast of seidr at his brother. It should have pushed him back a few feet, but instead, he's thrown across the room, the quick flash of light a bright blue with only the faintest tint of green. Loki winces, but Thor is back on his feet, seeming completely unsurprised. And he's smirking. "The last time that happened by accident was when you were first learning basic spells," he teases.
Loki gives him a flat look. "Oh, do be quiet, Thor," he chides. "It would be such a shame if I turned you into a frog, and the Space Stone made the shift irreparable." He can't help but grin at the look of sudden alarm that flits across his brother's face.
"That… can't happen, can it?" Thor asks warily.
Loki shrugs. "I've never used the Infinity Stones before," he answers, "And I've certainly never known anyone to form a bond like this. I imagine any number of unthinkable things can happen."
"You're holding back – Are you holding back?" his brother inquires.
He nearly laughs at the question. "Brother, if I were to unleash the full power of an Infinity Stone on you, do you think you could take it? Do you think my body could handle it?"
It's rhetorical, and Thor clearly recognizes that, because he doesn't give an answer. "I saw some weapons powered by the Tesseract," Rogers offers from his place in the sidelines. "They literally vaporized humans. I don't know what kind of effect it would have on your people though."
"We are… significantly stronger than mortals," Loki informs him. "Our blood contains a naturally stronger connection to seidr from which we derive our strength."
"Oh, so it's like something genetic almost?" Stark wonders with open curiosity as he leans forwards. "Like something within you is giving you the ability to manipulate the energy around you? I wonder if it would be possible for us to harness 'magic' using technology. I'll have to see what data JARVIS has collected on your abilities."
Loki just barely refrains from rolling his eyes. Before the sparring session had begin, Stark had asked if he could have his AI collect readings of Loki's energetic signature throughout for later analysis and study. Loki had agreed, if only because he was curious to know what the mortal might learn and develop as a result. One thing he's definitely learned about Midgard is that the humans are incredibly resourceful, using whatever knowledge and technology they have to stand up against the more superior beings who use seidr.
"Tony," Lady Potts chides in a low voice, though the fondness in it is unmistakable, "Do you have any idea how rude that could be?"
Stark's expression seems sheepish. "It wasn't meant to be," he protests, and Loki sees Banner look away for a moment to hide a smile.
"Since you did not suggest experimenting on me, I will not take offence to what you said," Loki tells him dryly. "Seidr is known to run strongly in certain families, but there is far more involved than simple inheritance," he explains. "Some individuals have great capabilities while their family does not." He suspects, though he is not certain, that it's true for him. If Jotuns have sorcerers, he's not heard of it.
Stark hums thoughtfully. "That's definitely something I'm going to investigate," he decides.
"Let's try something a tad more advanced," Loki suggests, turning back to Thor. His brother immediately braces himself, holding up his sword. It's easy to draw on his seidr to create a duplicate of himself, and only slightly harder to make it physical in nature. Normally, he can only hold two or three such craftings – it's a huge drain on his energy and requires a great deal of concentration – but now… he can hardly feel it.
Smirking, he makes the simulacrum attack Thor, while he duplicates himself several more times before cloaking himself from view. Standing to the side, arms crossed, Loki takes great pleasure in having all six of his copies – they're all physical, and he can't even believe it – attack Thor with daggers pulled from his pocket dimension. His connection to the copies is stronger as well. He notices that he can sense them physically far more strongly than usual. And thus far, his body is not experiencing any signs of energetic overload which might be expected when drawing on an Infinity Stone for so long. He's never heard of anything like this before, and he thinks he'll have to do some more research later on.
"Which one is the real you?" Thor asks, obviously wary of seriously injuring any of the simulacrums attacking him for fear of hurting his brother.
"You can't tell?" Loki questions back through the mouth of one of his copies. It's almost creepy to see… himself fighting with other copies of himself while the real him stands idly to the side. It makes him wonder if he would have the power to craft an entirely new body for himself, not that he'd ever attempt such a thing, because transferring his consciousness could prove highly problematic.
"No," Thor answers, shaking his head. He almost looks spooked, and Loki laughs at him.
"Well…" he says slowly, dropping the shroud of invisibility from where he's leaning against the wall. "I'm here." With a casual flick of his hand, the simulacrums disappear. "You've never been particularly attuned to discerning illusions from reality, but you should have been able to feel the workings holding them together."
Thor blinks, obviously surprised that Loki was on the sidelines the whole time. "Yes, I could," he acknowledges, "But it was so much stronger than anything you've ever done before…" His voice trails off, and he huffs out a laugh. "Can you teach me the basics at least?"
Loki stills. This isn't the first time that Thor has asked – he mentioned it once before some days ago – but it seems surreal to teach Thor how he does magic. "Of course," he replies with a smile. "Anytime."
"That is like so cool," Stark interjects before Thor can say anything else. "It would be so handy in a battle to have an illusion of yourself running around and fighting while you stayed on the side to… strategize and plan, you know? We gotta work on seeing if you can link your magic with technology." He smirks suddenly. "I'll even build you your own suit if you want," he offers. "Call it the Magic Man suit!"
Loki just barely refrains from rolling his eyes. "Yes," he agrees dryly, "I am certain that is something we could look into, but somehow, I doubt that Lady Potts or Captain Rogers would be terribly interested in listening in."
"Not exactly," Lady Potts concedes. "I probably should go attend to some urgent paperwork anyways." She gives him a slightly apologetic smile as she rises, pausing to give Stark a warning not to do anything stupid before she leaves the room.
"Technology isn't really my thing," Rogers admits, "But perhaps I can go upstairs to make dinner for us all?"
"Sure. That would be great!" Stark agrees. The captain hesitates for a moment before departing as well, leaving Loki behind with three attentive listeners. It's going to be a long session.
For the mortals' sakes, Loki begins with the basics of seidr, explaining how mages connect with their inner seidr and learn how to harness it. To his pleasant surprise, Stark and Banner both seem to understand what he's saying, or at least they're able to grasp the concepts, though they're not able to entirely comprehend the delicacy of the manipulations that goes into spell casting. Thor is helpful as well, explaining things or asking questions at random; it does a lot to show that, this time, he's actually paying attention.
Perhaps he'll yet learn how to properly harness his own abilities. Loki has always thought that he would be magnificent, especially if he didn't need to depend on Mjolnir, but it will take him time and training to achieve proper mastery. "I want to learn how," Thor insists, when Loki voices the thought that he can control his seidr without Mjolnir, though it's a bit different from Loki's own, more focused on the elements and less on the energy contained within all living organisms.
They shelve that discussion for later, at a time when Stark and Banner aren't around, seeing as their primary focus is on Loki's seidr and his new connection to the Tesseract. By the time that JARVIS informs them the evening meal is ready, Stark has already come up with a number of possible devices which could be theoretically charged with Loki's seidr. The realization that these mortals have the ability to contain and use his energy is as thrilling as it is terrifying. He doesn't want to ever be used against his will again, and he has no idea what could happen should SHIELD learn of Stark's newest prototype.
And for some reason, Stark is insistent that he design a suit of armor for Loki similar to what he himself uses, except that Loki will be able to channel his seidr through it to power it. It's a novel idea, and Loki decided to let him have his fun. Should he succeed, he'll only demonstrate the innate creativity that Loki has already seen in the Midgardians. Somehow, he doubts the man will give up before he's created something, irrespective of its usefulness.
Over dinner they discuss Loki's new ability to create numerous physical duplicates of himself, deciding to keep it confidential for now. Some things are better left unshared.
"Do you really think that SHIELD would try to do something should they learn?" Rogers questions uncertainly.
Stark shrugs. "It's better to not find out. They haven't exactly acted to inspire my confidence of them in the past, especially not given how they were treating Bruce."
"They will not try anything if they value their lives," Thor declares emphatically, a figurative storm cloud gathering around him.
Loki can't help but wince. "I can take care of myself, brother," he reminds him pleasantly. "Mortals do not frighten me."
"Of course, you can," Thor amends, "But that doesn't mean you have to do so alone."
Loki says nothing. He finds that he enjoys the single-minded attention Thor gives to him, but it does become smothering at times. A small part of him still can't help but wonder how his brother could still view their relationship the same given everything which has transpired, but he won't regret the gift he's being given. He's grateful for what he now has, knowing that it won't last forever. Eventually, Thor will have to return to Asgard, and Loki will not be going with him.